New Album “A 2nd Shape” by The Wolfgang Press Out September 27
The Wolfgang Press, an English post-punk band, has announced their first new album in nearly three decades. Titled “A 2nd Shape,” the record is set for release on September 27, 2024, via Downwards Records.
Artist: The Wolfgang Press
Release Date: 2024-09-27
Genres: Experimental Music, Industrial Music, Post-punk
Label: Downwards Records
Description: The Wolfgang Press announces their comeback album "A 2nd Shape," set to release on September 27, 2024, featuring analog recording and post-punk elements.
Formed in London in 1983, The Wolfgang Press initially consisted of Michael Allen, Mark Cox, and Andrew Gray. The group’s musical style evolved significantly over their career, starting with a dark post-punk sound and gradually incorporating elements of funk, industrial, and electronic music. They were signed to the influential independent label 4AD, which was home to other notable acts such as Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance.
The band’s discography includes several albums released throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, such as “The Burden of Mules” (1983), “Standing Up Straight” (1986), and “Queer” (1991). Their last studio album before their extended hiatus was “Funky Little Demons,” released in 1995.
For their comeback album, the core lineup features Michael Allen and Andrew Gray, with the addition of Stephen Gray, Andrew’s brother. The group has released the first single, “Sad Surfer,” which draws inspiration from the life and work of Victorian painter Richard Dadd. Dadd, who created fantastical landscapes populated by supernatural beings, spent much of his life in psychiatric hospitals after killing his father in a delusional state.
“A 2nd Shape” marks a departure from the band’s late-era sound, which had embraced more soul and funk influences. The new material is described as brooding yet vital, with a renewed focus on post-punk elements. Allen’s bass playing, a prominent feature of their early work, is once again at the forefront of their sound.
The recording process for the album was deliberately analog, with the band opting to use tape and an ADAT 8-track machine instead of computers. This approach allowed for live band performances with minimal overdubbing, resulting in a raw and immediate sound.
Karl O’Connor’s Downwards Records, known for bridging techno and post-punk influences, is releasing the album. O’Connor, a long-time fan of The Wolfgang Press, has personal memories of the band’s powerful live performances from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The Wolfgang Press’s return after such a long absence is a significant event in the post-punk and alternative music scene, potentially introducing their unique sound to a new generation of listeners while also appealing to long-time fans.
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As a longtime fan of Wolfgang Prese since 1983 I am so awfully disappointed
In this comeback. But isnt that how it always goes. I can’t think of one band or singer that made a great album after leaving. The mix is terrible. You cannot hear Michael’s vocals. The songs are too slow and depressing. And the music is so fake and machine made. It’s a real shame.